Love Katherine Center's brand of romance. This is a fresh feel good story that will appeal to romance readers and contemporary commercial women's fiction readers alike.

I received this copy of Things You Save In A Fire by Katherine Center from @netgalley and @stmartinspress in exchange for an honest review. Its publication date is August 13, 2019.
I absolutely loved this book. It was super engaging from start to finish.  Cassie, a female firefighter, goes through such relatable issues. She finds herself having to relocate from her Texan hometown to Massachusetts to help her estranged mother with some health issues.  It wasn't an esay decision to leave her beloved texan firehouse but she felt it her only choice. The firehouse in Massachusetts isn't as welcoming to women in this predominantly male job. As cassie trys to prove herself to the squad time and time again she finds herself being able to trust owen. Trust doesn't come easy for cassie for any kind of relationship because of events that unfolded on her 16th birthday. Suddenly things start to get complicated in Massachusetts, bad things always occur in 3's right. Health, her job, a big fire. Dramatic, heartbreaking, edge of your seat amasment.
This was the first book ive read by Center. It was beautifully written with an easy  flow, i devoured the book in a couple day's because i just couldn't get enough, definitely an unputdownable read. The way center develops the characters and their relationships was outstanding. I was able to feel what cassie was going through.  A very well written book full of romance, tough decisions, friendship, family, death, love and even a little suspense definitely a 5 star read



My review will also appear on my Instagram instagram.com/teatime_with_a_book on Tuesday February 25th, 2019
I will also post my review on goodreads goodreads.com/teatime_with_a_book

This book had such a strong female lead character which is part of the reason I enjoyed it so much. I had pretty much fallen in love with her by the end of the opening scene. And even though parts of the story are predictable, that's not a negative. Life is full of enough surprises and so it can actually be refreshing to pick up a book like this one and already have a general idea which direction the author is going to go in.

Cassie doesn't have the best relationship with her mother. She's never really been able to forgive her mom for deciding to up and leave the family and move to Boston when Cassie was in high school. But when she gets a phone call from her ailing mother begging her to come live with her for a year, Cassie agrees even though she has serious reservations.

Cassie is a highly qualified firefighter, but she will be put to the ultimate test when she starts working at the local firehouse. Her fellow co-workers aren't exactly thrilled that a female firefighter has joined the ranks. But Cassie was expecting their sexist attitudes and is confident she can show them why she is one of the best firefighters out there. She gets along pretty well with a rookie on the job but knows getting romantically involved with a firefighter is just not a good idea. Besides, Cassie has no interest in finding love. Or does she?

I really loved the personal growth Cassie experienced throughout the book. I thought the "be a hero" message was incredibly powerful. Sometimes you are forced to make difficult choices in life and it's always good to keep in mind what kind of person you want to be and let that help guide you in making decisions.

Definitely recommend this book if you like strong female characters. The fact Cassie was a firefighter really added to the story and sets it apart from other typical novels in the romance or women's fiction genres.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

I love the way Katherine Center writes. A couple of pages into Things You Save in a Fire, I already knew that the main character, Cassie Hanwell was someone I liked, respected and wanted to know more about. Cassie is a firefighter and she is truly great at her job. When circumstances cause Cassie to move from Austin TX to Lillian MA to help her estranged mother, she is forced to face some of the biggest challenges in her life. The challenge that catches her most off guard is her unexpected attraction toward the rookie, the other new hire at the Lillian firehouse. Owen is a very lovable hero. He appreciates Cassie for her strengths and I found that refreshing. It was nice to read about a kindhearted hero who respected the heroine for being strong, instead of trying to “save” or change her. There were so many wonderful things about this story, Center’s attention to detail when describing the life of a firefighter, the way Cassie’s darkest secret was revealed to the reader, her relationship with her mother. I could not put this book down and I look forward to Center’s next novel.

"I'd... chosen, over and over, to be compassionate, and to be human, and to do the right thing - no matter if {they} deserved it or not."

Cassie is tough and vulnerable all at the same time, making her a lovable and relatable protagonist. I loved living inside of her head throughout this book, and felt connected to her, and her story, in many ways. This story speaks to what it means to be human in all of the best ways. I can't wait to recommend it to others for a long time to come.

Well, it's official! I've found a new favorite author! Was so excited to dive into Katherine Center's new novel after having adored How To Walk Away. Things You Save in a Fire did not disappoint! In fact, I'm waffling on whether or not I thought it was better than How To Walk Away.

The theme of this book is, for sure, forgiveness and I loved how Center captured that in many different relationships in the book. Cassie Hanwell is a kick ass firefighter who's as good as they get. After an uncharacteristic display of violence and a phone call from her visually challenged, somewhat estranged mother, Cassie finds herself headed from Texas to Boston to start over with a new fire company. Proving herself and being put into unfamiliar and uncomfortable situations creates quite the intriguing story. Throw in some romance with an adorable rookie, a mysterious stalker and an intense life changing fire and Center has created perfection!

I read this in a day and almost turned right back around and started reading it again. Yes, it's that good.

Thanks, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

3.75 stars

Super sweet love story that made this cynic both cringe and smile!

Things You Save in a Fire is about a woman who must learn to forgive in order to love.

Cassie, a 26-year-old firefighter in Austin Texas, has faced a lot of adversity in her life. On her 16th birthday, her mother left her father and Cassie for another man, which led to further tragedy. Furthermore, being a woman in a male-dominated profession, she has had to fight her way to acceptance. So when her estranged mother asks Cassie to come care for her outside of Boston while she adjusts to going blind, it should be an easy transition for Cassie. But when she arrives in Lillian at her new firehouse, she faces challenges she never thought she would experience--including learning to forgive and accept love.

Things You Save in a Fire was exactly what I needed! It’s light and happy but also has some depth. There’s a lot to love: I especially loved Cassie’s character. It was refreshing to have a strong, independent female protagonist not fall for losers. I admired how she didn’t back down from challenges and loved seeing her best the guys at the firehouse. I also loved her relationship with her mother. Cassie’s relationship with the rookie was sweet, I just wish it hadn’t been so rushed towards the end.

Onto my cynical side: There were times, especially when Cassie made grand declarations of love when I was groaning aloud and had to cover my eyes (which makes it hard to read!). The proposal scene was especially hard to take. I know, I know. I am just that person! Everything just came together too quickly and too neatly. At the same time, these were some very sweet and endearing moments that felt authentic. As for some of the others, my brain just has trouble processing them as reality.

Overall this is an easy and enjoyable read, even for those who are cynics at heart!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

I received Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center as an ARC from NetGalley. I absolutely loved this book and I couldn't put it down. Cassie Hanwell is one of only a few female firefighters at her station in Austin, Texas. Her mom is in Boston & asks her to come stay with her for a year because she is sick so Cassie transfer to a station in old school Boston where she is the only female. The story follows Cassie struggles at the fire station, her struggles with her estranged mom and falling in love for the first time. I loved the writing, the storyline and the characters, This was the first book I've read by Katherine Center and I will definitely be reading her other books. Highly recommend this!

This book was definitely not what I expected and I mean that in the best sense possible. I absolutely loved this book. It resonated with me on so many levels; especially because our heroine clearly has so many demons from her past that she has to deal with and I have been in her shoes.
There were moments of this book when tears were just falling down my face. And they weren’t always sad tears, but happy tears too. I can’t even tell you what points I loved about this book because then I’d tell you every chapter that I loved; and there were multiple chapters that I absolutely loved.
Ms Center has a very unique writing style. I loved the dialogue that Cassie had between her friends, coworkers, Diana and the rookie, but I also loved the self reflections. I loved her inner dialogue and the workings of her mind. I felt like I knew Cassie and at times I was Cassie. That is incredibly talented and it made the book flow so well.
I also loved the interactions between Cassie and the rookie. The way their relationship developed was so sweet. I first thought that this book was going to be a romance read, but it turned out to be so much more. I am so happy that I found a new author to read.
**ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own**

I so enjoyed this book by Katherine Center. It is about a person who has an event happen, plane vrash, that changes her entire course of her life. The author did a great job on the medical parts of the book which made this book so believable. The book is mostly about corage, relationships between sisters, family, and love interests. If you are looking for a great book that will keep you turning the pages, this is it. I even had to write some sentences down as they were so powerful. Also,I reviewed on Goodreads.

This book was so good it is hard to review without giving away the story. The writing is so good it pulls you into the lives of the characters as if they are your long time neighbors. You'll share their highs and lows and be happy for them in the end. The writing reminds me of so many of my favorite authors that I'll be looking for more books by this author. She could certainly write another story of firefighter Cassie and the rookie.

I had heard a lot of chatter and excitement about this book that I decided to give it a try. Now, I don't read romance novels, I primarily stick with thrillers and non fiction books, so I was so skeptical going in. Well let me tell you I LOVED THIS BOOK!

From the first page I knew it was going to be an easy read, and it was, I finished it in a day, because I could not put it down.

Cassie is a firefighter and is strong and fiercely independent, but she has been hurt so she has put up a tough wall. At first it seems like she cannot catch a break, having to move across the country and leave the perfect job behind to help her all but estranged ailing mother. But, this book was not a woah is me story nor is it sappy love story !! It filled me with joy, it made me cry, I even giggled.

Read this book, you will not be disappointed. I'm so happy I picked it up....and couldn't put it down. Thank you NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy.

#thingsyousaveinafire #katherinecenter #netgalley #stmartinspress

Cassie is a female firefighter, happily working and living in Austin, Texas. She was hurt by people in her life. To deal with the hurt and disappointments, she learned to be tough, strong and put up emotional walls.

When her estranged mother asks Cassie for help, Cassie is forced to make decisions which will ultimately change the trajectory of her life. This is a story about love, strength and learning to forgive.

The plot is interesting and kept me engaged. There is famiy drama, sexual tension and mystery. The characters are unique although some are predictable. The story is told against the background of a fire department and the dynamics of those relationships. I enjoyed the way the author used firefighting analogies to make important points in the story.

If you are looking for an interesting read that is engaging and and also fun, this is for you.

I really liked this book. Although the outcome is predictable who doesn’t love a good romance. Our heroine, Cassie, is so likable and fierce that you root for her immediately. The theme of forgiveness is beautifully woven throughout the book. And the setting in a firehouse is different and interesting! I liked it!

My review is posted on Goodreads now. I'll post it to Amazon and my blog (www.bugbugbooks.com) on the release date. Thank you so much for the ARC!!!

Twenty-six year old Cassie Hanwell is one of the only female firefighters in her Austin fire department. Her career is just beginning, but she’s already proven herself to be a good leader who is quick on her feet and tough as nails. She’s earned the respect of her crew and her chief, and a promotion looks all but certain…until she punches a sleazy politician (who also happens to be her former abusive boyfriend) in the face during an awards ceremony. Suddenly, her future isn’t looking as bright.

Reluctantly, Cassie decides to transfer to a different station to be closer to her sick mother near Boston. The two haven’t spoken in ten years and Cassie is still mad at her mom for cheating on her dad and leaving the family. But she doesn’t have a whole lot of options at this point. And dealing with her mother is the least of Cassie’s worries. On her first day, she takes one look at the decrepit fire station and her BRO-ed out coworkers and realizes she’s facing a long road ahead. The new crew doesn’t like having a woman in the firehouse, and they plan on letting her know it every chance they get. The only one who seems open and friendly toward her is Owen, the rookie on the team. In fact, he’s pushing for a friendship, but Cassie doesn’t want that. Or does she?

There is a lot to love about this book. I love that Cassie is not even close to the “manic pixie dream girl” stereotype. She’s strong and somewhat closed off, and even though she develops and grows throughout the story, she never stops being an emotionally calm and contained person. It’s refreshing to see a competent and controlled female character in a romantic-drama-type book.

I also really love the theme of forgiveness that runs through the whole story. Author Katherine Center talks about trauma and fractured relationships authentically and honestly (no glossing over the hard stuff), but her advice on how to forgive (mostly shared through the character of Cassie’s mom) is surprisingly helpful. Watching Cassie be able to confront her past and work through it in such a believable and still somehow relentlessly hopeful way is so, so uplifting. I really didn’t expect to have this strong of an emotional connection to Cassie’s journey, but, wow, I really did.

This book was on my “to be read” list. It was a good book that explored a complex relationship between a mother and daughter. I enjoyed reading about their journey to find a relationship again. Overall, it was a good read. I received an advance reader copy from #netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel evoked so many different emotions in me. I was crying one minute, then smiling, then laughing aloud. I was cheering the whole time for Cassie to overcome all of the obstacles in her life but knowing in the back of my mind that real life doesn’t work like that. I loved that she was so kind to the Rookie and that she learned how to forgive so that she could then teach how to others. Cassie was a strong female character, one of the strongest that I have ever read about and her strength is in her words and her actions. I could see the research that went into the novel all along the way as I read it and I am thankful for the author’s firefighter husband who helped to make the details so realistic. As the sister of a fire chief, I was enthralled by this book from the beginning to the end. Fans of Katherine Center will not want to miss this one because it is an excellent portrayal of the real life of real heroes. I loved it and highly recommend it to those who want to be entertained and educated about the sacrifices of firefighters everywhere.

A recent Monday morning found me at the walk in clinic with my son, but without a book. *gasp*. I opened my Kindle app, closed my eyes, whirled my finger on the screen and landed on this book.

The set-up: Cassie, a female firefighter with loads of grit grapples with a painful past that requires a lesson in forgiveness. The story was really about Cassie's transformation with a wholesome romance being a secondary story line. I could have used a little more build up and a better paced character arc. However, I still loved Cassie as a strong female character. Cassie experiences something that changes her life and I loved how the author took this difficult event and wrote about it in a way that still conveyed the severity without being graphic.

While didn't love it or hate it, I still enjoyed it. It just probably won't be that memorable a year from now. My thoughts could very well be impacted by my "close eyes, pick a random Kindle book " method.

If you've read and enjoyed Katherine Center in the past, add it to your TBR.

I loved this book!! I read it in just a day or two and couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline.
I have read a few books by this author, and this one is my favorite.

Perfect February read on strength, forgiveness and the power of love. Katherine Center writes a strong female lead and covers some hard topics, while making me as a reader swoon and laugh. I cried, I laughed, I cheered for #girlpower!

Cassie is a firefighter/paramedic in Austin, living a life that she has built for herself after surviving the trauma of her mom leaving on her 16th birthday, when out of the blue her mom calls her and asks her to move to a small town outside of Boston to help her out, because she’s losing her vision. With a lot of resistance and resentment, Cassie goes there and starts at the all-male fire house, which makes it known from day one that they are not interested in having a woman there. She starts the same day as the Rookie, a 4th generation new firefighter. What follows is a story of Cassie striving to prove herself, of forgiveness, love, and finding your place in life.